Course Syllabus
Freshman Seminar - Genomics and Gene Therapy: How Genes Control You and How You Can Control Them |
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FRS 003 Sec. 006 (1 unit) CRN 34590 Tuesdays 4:10-5:00pm 4202 GBSF Instructor: David Segal djsegal@ucdavis.edu, Genome Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, and MIND Institute. 1. Course description/ goals: We are now living in a world in which we can alter our DNA. As of 2017, gene therapy is now a thing, and gene editing is in clinical trials. Would you like to learn how this is done and where it's going? This seminar is intended to provide science and non-science majors with an overview of the use and ethics of genome sequencing, gene therapy, and CRISPR/Cas gene editing. Topics to be covered will include an introduction to the human genome, what is a genetic disease, and how recent advances have enabled scientists to attempt to fix genetic diseases. Anyone curious about what information is in the human genome and how that information might be used to improve public health is welcomed to attend. One goal of this course is to develop effective communication skills, both between the instructor and the students, and the students with each other. The content will therefore be delivered in discussions, debate teams, peer feedback on writings, and a tour of the genome center. In addition to learning about our genes and gene therapy, the students will learn to work together to increase their knowledge and share it with others. These interactions, discussions and debates, will works towards our other goal of cultivating ethics, responsibility, honor, acceptance, respect, and empathy. 2. Format: The seminar will be one hour per week for ten weeks. There will be two informal lectures for orientation and introduction to the basics. The subsequent format will be discussions, debates, and presentations based on reading materials, including articles from scientific journals and popular sources. A 1-credit class averages 2-hours outside of the class per week (20 total hours). All reading materials will be provided. Participants will also write two 1-page papers on topics related to gene therapy. One session will be reserved for a tour of the UC Davis Genome Center to see where this work is actually done. The last few sessions will be reserved for group presentations in which 3-4 students will present progress in a particular area of gene therapy. The format and details of the group presentations will be discussed during the class. 3. Topic Outline: Read “As D.I.Y. Gene Editing Gains Popularity, ʻSomeone Is Going to Get Hurtʼ" and "Governor Signs Senator Chang’s Bill to Address Human Biohacking" Sep 28: Introduction to the Human Genome, lecture; course overview Read “Boy in school flap over cystic fibrosis” Oct 5: Genetic discrimination, debate teams Write 1 pg paper on “ FDA shuts down 23andMe” Oct 12: Peer feedback and discussion. Take online Quiz 1 Oct 19: Introduction to Gene Therapy, lecture and discussion Read “Germline vs. somatic gene therapy” and "Gene-editing breakthrough in China comes with urgent call for global rules". Oct 26: Germline gene therapy, debate teams Nov 2: Tour of Genome Center Write 1 pg paper on “World’s Costliest Medicine Is Gene Treatment Priced at $2 Million” Nov 9: Gene therapy: The first approved gene therapy: Glybera, group presentation Take online Quiz 2 Nov 16: Gene therapy of neurologic disorders: Luxturna, group presentation Nov 23: Gene therapy of cancer: Kymriah, group presentation Nov 30: Gene Drives in the control of mosquitoes, group presentation; course evaluation Take online Quiz 3 4. Grading: Pass/Fail. The grade of PASS is awarded to undergraduate students for work in courses that otherwise would receive a grade of C– or better. Evidence of preparation and active participation in discussions and group presentations will be 40% of the course grade. Another 30% will be based on three take home short quizzes to evaluate if participants are understanding the key concepts as we go along. The remaining 30% will be based on the two writing assignments. All students are required to know and adhere to the UC Davis Code of Academic Conduct. 5. About the instructor: David Segal holds joint appointments in the UC Davis Genome Center, the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, the Department of Pharmacology, and the M.I.N.D. Institute. He is the co-Chair of the Integrative Genetics and Genomics (IGG) graduate program and director of the Center for Interventional Genetics. This will be his 19th time teaching this seminar. His research interest is in genome and epigenetic editing using CRISPR as therapy for genetic disorders. He is also aware that research scientists often do a poor job of communicating their science to non-scientists, fueling public anxiety about new technological advances. This seminar therefore aims to demystify, discuss, and invite critical thinking on new frontiers of biomedical science. |
6. Class and University Policies
Instruction for Fall 21 will be in person.
COVID-19 Safety Procedures
By the first day of class, all students and employees are expected to be fully vaccinated (someone who completed a COVID-19 vaccination series more than 2 weeks ago) or have secured a COVID Vaccine Policy Exception or Deferral (including anyone who has not received any vaccinations against COVID-19, has only had the first shot in a two-part vaccination series, is still in the 2-week waiting period after a final shot, or is out of date getting a booster shot). All students are required to wear a mask in class. Masks may only be removed briefly to sip liquids. No food is allowed in the classroom. Fully vaccinated students must take a UC Davis COVID-19 Test every 14 days. Unvaccinated students with a Policy Exception must test every 4 days. To ensure the safety of all attendees, we will be checking the results of your Daily Symptom Survey at the start of class. A Green or Purple result screen will indicate it is okay for you to be present in the classroom.
If a student is not able to access an authorized vaccine until they arrive in Davis or on campus, they are expected to receive their first vaccine shot on or before Monday Sept 20 in order to access campus facilities and attend classes. Such students must complete their vaccination series by October 20 (four weeks after the first day of classes) or the compliance disciplinary process will be initiated. While they are completing their vaccination series, students will be required to follow campus guidance for unvaccinated students who have secured exemptions (including sequestration, testing every four days, and wearing face coverings) until two weeks after their vaccination series is complete. Please refer to this website for additional information about the COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate for UC Davis, or contact me (djsegal@ucdavis.edu) with any questions.
Mental Health and Wellness
College life can be stressful, but these times our faculty and students may be experiencing additional stresses related to COVID-19, wildfires, structural racism and injustice, conflicts, food insecurity, family issues, and isolation. Please check in on your friends, classmates, and yourselves for signs of depression, anxiety, or deteriorating academic performance. Everyone will experience these signs from time to time. There is no stigma and there is excellent, confidential help to get you back functioning well again. Counseling and Psychological Services can be contacted day or night at 530-752-0871. I can also point you to other resources that can help you with needs and issues that may arise. OSSJA and AggieCompass are also helpful. Please don't do nothing. You are valued here.
Class Policy on Attendance
• As this course is intended to be interactive, attendance is mandatory. Unexcused absences may result in loss of all points for that session (points are indicated in the Grading section above). If you can not attend a session, you must notify the instructor (me) in advance and an accommodations can be made on a case by case basis. If you can not notify the instructor in advance, it is your responsibility to notify the instructor as soon as possible. Failure to provide any notification will be considered an unexcused absence.
University Code of Academic Conduct
• As students at UC Davis, you are responsible to know and uphold the UC Davis Code of Academic Conduct regarding Honesty, Fairness & Integrity. Please click on the link to learn more. However, I will highlight here just one item of the Code regarding plagiarism.
• Plagiarism: Plagiarism is the act of taking someone else's work or idea and presenting it as one's own. In this course, you will need to search for information from various sources, including the internet. You are expected to summarize this information in your own words. You should cite any sources you use in preparing your Writing Assignments and Group Presentations . However, copying and pasting text directly from any source is plagiarism and is unacceptable. Cases of plagiarism have been, and will be, referred to the Office of Student Support and Judicial Affairs (https://ossja.ucdavis.edu/). Please ask your instructor if you have questions about appropriate content.
Bottom line, please communicate with your instructor if you have any questions, issues or doubts, and in advance of the event as much as possible.
Course Summary:
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